Spring-compressing tool



jme 3fm, w36. W A, MQNFORT 2,046,203

SPRING COMPRESSING TOOL Filed June 29, 1934 Patented June 30, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention is a tool to facilitate the removal of keepers andwashers from the valves of internal combustion engines. A particularobject of the invention is to provide a simple tool by the use of whichthe Valve springs may be compressed to relieve the tension upon thewasher or keeper of the Valve and thereby expedite its removal and alsoto provide a tool by which the spring may be gripped and held to beremoved from the valve. These stated objects and other objects whichwill incidentally appear in the course of the following description areattained in such a tool as is illustrated in the accompanying drawingand the invention resides in certain novel features which will beparticularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional elevations showing the manner of using thetool.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the springengaging end of the tool.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, the reference numeral I designates a valve and 2designates a portion of the engine block, while 3 designates the Valvestem and 4 the tappet which operates the valve stem in the usual manner.The engine block is provided with a recess 5 which houses the spring 6,said spring resting upon a washer or keeper, indicated at 1.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a toolconsisting of two bars or members 8 and 9 which are pivoted togethernear one end, the longer arms of the bars constituting handle members,while the opposite ends thereof constitute spring-engaging jaws. Thepivotal connection between the members comprises a shank having anon-circular intermediate portion I@ which ts closely within an openingof the same contour as the said portion of the shank in the lower toolmember 9, as clearly shown in Figure 4. The upper end portion of thisshank is circular in cross section, as shown at I I, and nts through acircular opening in the upper member 8 so that said member may be turnedabout the shank and assume Various positions relative to the lowermember 9. A washer I2 is tted around the upper end I I of the shank andthe upper extremity of the shank is upset over the washer, as shown atI3, whereby the parts will be held together. The somewhat enlarged lowerend of the shank is bifurcated, as shown at I4, and within this forkedor bifurcated lower end is pivotally secured a depending fulcrum memberI5.

(Cl. ,Z9-86.3)

The jaw ends of the tool members are arcuate in form, as clearly shownin Figure 3, and are adapted to t closely about the spring 6 and therebyenable the user to grip the spring and hold the saine as desired. One ofthe arcuate jaws I6 is provided at its lower edge, on its inner side andat its free end, with an inwardly extending lip or lug Il, while theopposite jaw I8 is provided with a somewhat more extended lip or flangeI9 on its inner side and at the end of the handle member 9.

The recess 5, in the engine block, has an upstanding flange 20 upon itslower wall and has an opening or entrance 2I in its side through which atool may be inserted to engage the spring. In

the use of the present tool, the handle members 15 are spread apartsufficiently to open the jaws I6 and I8 and permit them to clear andpass around the spring 5, as will be understood. As the jaws are closedupon the spring, as shown in Figure l, the lips or lugs I'i and I9 whichare in vertically spaced planes, as shown in Figure 4, will enterbetween the lowest coils of the spring and will, consequently, bearagainst the spring so as to support the same, as will be understood uponreference to the dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4. With the tool inposition, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the free handle membersare raised to the position indicated in dotted lines, while maintainingthe grip upon the spring, so that the spring will be slightly compressedand the fulcrum member or foot I5 will be raised to a position in whichits lower end may rest upon the lower flange 20 of the chamber or recess5 in the engine block. Without releasing the grip upon the handlemembers, said members are then swung downwardly to the position shown inFigure 2, thereby lifting the spring and compressing the same so thatthe keeper or washer may be easily withdrawn. If the spring be thenreleased, it will expand and extend between the upper and lower walls ofthe recess 5 but will be retained in said recess by the valve stem. Ifit be desired to remove the spring, the valve may be lifted sufcientlyto permit the spring to clear the valve stem and the spring may then beeasily withdrawn. In returning the spring to working position, the valvemay be lifted slightly and it will remain in the raised position untilthe parts have been assembled. The spring will then be gripped by andbetween the jaws I6 and I8 and may be inserted into position about thelower end of the valve stem, a slight pressure by the thumb of theoperator being sulicient to bend the spring enough to pass under the endof the stem. While the spring is compressed, the washer or keeper may beinserted and then, if the grip upon the spring be released, theexpansion of the spring will hold the parts in assembled relation.V

The opposed curved jaws, with their respective supporting lips or lugs,enable the user of the tool to obtain a firm grip upon the spring sothat the spring may be easily compressed and if it be withdrawn, it willnot be lost. The tool is very simple in construction and may be producedat little expense while it is highly efficient in use for the purposesfor which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention; I claim:

1. A valve tool comprisinghandle members pivotally connected near oneend, arcuate shaped jaws at said ends of the handle members adaptedto'encircle and grip a coil spring and each extending longitudinally ofthe handle member at the opposite side of the tool from the other jaw,an

inwardly projecting lip projecting rearwardlyV other end of the shank.

from the lower edge of one jaw at the free outer end of the same, and acooperating lip projecting forwardly` from the lower edge of the opposedjaw Y tion iitting an opening of like contour in one of the members andhaving a circular end portion extending through the other member, meansco- Vacting with the said circular end portion of the shank to retainthe shank in the members, and a fulcrum member pivotally connected withthe WILLIAM A. 'MONFORT

